How fast can you go!

Reigning World Champion to set another South African record (Note this was the Durban Virginia Airshow which took place in 2006)

Glen Dell(RIP) , current Advanced World Aerobatic Champion, South African Airways Captain and Red Bull sponsored pilot, is set to establish a South African airspeed record on Friday the 7th July by flying a point to point distance of 400km or more in the shortest possible time recorded.

Glen will take off from Rand Airport in Johannesburg in a Hawker Sea Fury flying via Heidelberg to Virginia Airport in Durban. Glen anticipates flying the route in about 53 minutes, similar to that of a Boeing 737 Jet aircraft.

The Hawker Sea Fury is the fastest piston engined aircraft ever built. This magnificent machine has impressive statistics such as a 2550hp, 18 cylinder, 57 litre Bristol Centaurus Engine, a height of 4.9 metres (16.1ft) and a maximum flying speed of 740km per hour.

Not only has Glen logged an impressive amount of over 22 000 flying hours on various aircraft and helicopters but in addition Glen holds another record, that of being the only South African to ever win the Advanced World Aerobatic Championship title.

Glen’s deep passion for flying and specially that of aerobatics shows not only in his utter enjoyment of being in the “drivers” seat of an aerobatic aircraft, performing breathtaking manoeuvres, but also in his skilful handling of a commercial Boeing Jetliner flying people of all walks of life to various destinations.

Visitors to this years Durban Airshow will truly enjoy the awesome, precise displays by Glen, one of the most talented pilots in the world.

The Hawker Sea Fury was a British fighter aircraft designed and manufactured by Hawker Aircraft. It was the last propeller-driven fighter to serve with the Royal Navy, and one of the fastest production single reciprocating engine aircraft ever built.

During the glory days when warbirds we a many in South Africa at the time, there were two airworthy flying Sea Fury flying in South African Skies, one aircraft that belonged to John Sayers and the other being based down in Port Elizabeth flown by Stu Davidson.

Today the only flying example of the Hawker Sea Fury is Stu Davidsons second Sea Fury after selling his previous Sea Fury overseas.

Before that John Sayers also sold his Sea Fury, but has still got a good collection of aircraft at his private Airfield near Brits, including a T28 Trojan, Beechcraft Staggerwing and many more exotic aircraft in his possession!

The Ex Pat Sea Furys are regulars on the airshow circuit in Europe and Australia as we believe.

What a treat it will be to see the last surviving Sea Fury roar through the skies at a airshow in South Africa. George and Stellenbosch Airshow, maybe you will be in luck!